Sino-Japanese Diffidation in 1958: from the perspective of domestic internationalism-nationalism confrontation

Abstract

Problem Statement: Regardless of all achievements, Chinese government chose to abandon “People’s diplomacy” policy with thorough diffidation with Japan, leaving an important question of “Why” to be answered.Research Questions: Why, from the domestic perspective, did Chinese government choose to abandon its “People’s diplomacy” policy toward Japan with a thorough diffidation with Japan in 1958?Purpose of the Study: By giving detailed observations from domestic perspective, this research aims to help shape more comprehensive cognition of the Sino-Japanese diffidation in 1958, to deepen the understanding of “People’s diplomacy” policy, and to inspire further thoughts and researches regarding nationalistic factors in past and present Chinese foreign policy-making.Research Methods: By conducting literature studies on works of Mao Zedong and Chou Enlai, available Chinese confidential documents on Sino-Japanese relations and memoirs of diplomats directly processing Sino-Japanese relations, this research will sum up characteristics of “People’s diplomacy” and persuasive evidences of existing nationalism, and try to analyze the influence of their interactions on policy-making process of Sino-Japanese diffidation in 1958.Findings: Chinese “People’s diplomacy” policy towards Japan in the 1950s shows strong internationalist belief in separating “friendly Japanese people and groups” from “US Imperialists and Japanese Militarists”. Meanwhile, there has been anti-Japanese nationalistic emotions and voices existing and growing. Confrontation between internationalism-based policy and anti-Japanese nationalism pushed Chinese government to rethink about and change its policy towards Japan finally.Conclusions: Gradually realizing that the internationalism-based “People’s Diplomacy” policy towards Japan faced unignorable growing pressures from domestic anti-Japanese nationalistic emotions, especially in the second half of 1950s, Chinese government finally chose to give up such policy by stating to stop all the communications with Japan in 1958, which is the Sino-Japanese diffidation.